Souffles are temperamental, answering a too-loud noise or an ill-timed peek into the oven with a quick, dispiriting transformation and a gooey mess clumped in the bottom of the dish. But a successful souffle -- light, airy, and flavorful, rising dramatically over the rim of its dish -- is a magnificent showpiece. This souffle recipe is adapted from Anne Willan's"From My Chateau Kitchen."

Directions

Instructions Checklist

Step 1

In a medium saucepan, heat orange juice and 1 cup sugar until sugar is dissolved. Add tangerines, and simmer, covered, until tangerines are very tender, 25 to 35 minutes. Strain through a fine sieve, pressing gently to extract most of the juice, reserving both fruit and juice. In a food processor, combine tangerines and 1/2 cup tangerine juice. Puree until fairly rough, 3 to 4 minutes. Add Grand Marnier, and process to combine. The puree should just hold its shape without being sticky; if necessary, work in a little more juice. Transfer the puree to the saucepan.

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Step 2

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Generously butter six 8-ounce ramekins, chill them for 10 minutes in the freezer, and butter them again. Set on a baking sheet. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk egg whites with a tablespoon of sugar until the whites hold a stiff peak, 1 to 2 minutes. Add remaining 1/2 cup sugar, stirring with a spoon until whites are glossy and hold a long peak when the spoon is lifted, about 1 minute. Heat the tangerine puree until just simmering. Remove from heat, and add about 1/4 of the whites, stirring until well mixed. Add this mixture to the remaining whites, lightly folding to combine.

Step 3

Transfer souffle mixture to ramekins, filling to the rim and mounding generously in the center. Run your thumb around the edge of the mixture to make it rise evenly. Bake the souffles until puffed and brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Set the ramekins on small plates, preferably lined with a napkin to prevent slipping. Serve immediately with orange-strawberry sauce.